Push to change planning powers

A court has begun hearing a legal challenge over a proposed
Hunter Valley open-cut coalmine.

Green groups have claimed in the NSW Land and Environment Court
that Centennial Coal's proposed mine at Anvil Hill, near the Hunter
Valley town of Muswellbrook does not adequately consider the
effects that burning the coal sold from the mine could have on
climate change.

If successful, the case will set a precedent requiring the
Government to consider the impact of greenhouse gases in approving
developments.

Mr Sartor has final say on whether the project goes ahead, and
under what conditions.

Centennial Coal has estimated annual emissions from coal mined
at Anvil Hill will be in the range of 12.4 million tonnes - just
under one tenth of 1 per cent of annual global greenhouse gas
emissions.

Under proposed changes to the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act, a developer would no longer need to comply with
environmental assessment requirements requested by the
director-general of planning.

Instead, the director-general would only be required to report
on the proposed project to the minister after the developer applied
for approval.

The changes are due to be debated in NSW Parliament in coming
weeks. Mr Sartor has said the legislative changes will not affect
the court case.

The NSW Opposition Leader, Peter Debnam, said the Coalition was
reviewing the bill and consulting locals on the Anvil Hill project.
"We remain very concerned that Frank Sartor - or Godzilla as he's
known across the state - is just collecting more and more power
unto himself," Mr Debnam told reporters.